Exploratory analysis of B-cell activating factor (BAFF) and A proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) across migraine phases.

Emerging evidence suggests that imbalanced T-cell activity and immune dysfunction may contribute to migraine pathogenesis. However, the specific immune pathways remain unclear, particularly the role of B cells. To explore B-cell-related mechanisms, this study focused on two key members of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) family, namely B-cell activating factor (BAFF) and A proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL), which play critical roles in B-cell survival and regulation. This study examined BAFF and APRIL expression in peripheral blood samples from migraine patients during pre-ictal, ictal, and post-ictal phases (n = 9) and in healthy controls (n = 9). BAFF levels increased during the ictal phase (p = 0.011) and declined in the post-ictal phase, whereas APRIL remained consistently downregulated relative to controls. The divergent patterns of BAFF and APRIL reveal a novel B-cell-related immune signature that may contribute to migraine pathogenesis. These preliminary findings support further studies to confirm these patterns and investigate the functional role of the BAFF-APRIL pathway in migraine.